Florida State Routs BYU

J A C K S O N V I L L E, Fla., Aug. 27

Not bad for an old guy.

Chris Weinke did more than stand back in the pocket and throw
touchdown passes: The 28-year-old quarterback ran, blocked and even
knocked over the opposing coach as No. 2 Florida State opened
defense of its national title with a 29-3 victory over BYU in
Saturday night’s Pigskin Classic.

Weinke wasn’t his usual accurate self, but he hit on 32 of 50
passes — both career highs— for 318 yards and two touchdowns. He
also ran 21 yards — the longest of his career — to set up a third
score, a 6-yard double reverse in which he threw the key block.

“We did some good things, but we had a couple of missed field
goals, a couple of missed opportunities,” said the 6-foot-5,
slimmed-down-to-229-pound Weinke. ‘We know we could have gotten
more points but you can’t be disappointed when you win. We know we
have some more work to do.”

Defense Dominates

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, in gaining career win No. 305,
said the offense was inconsistent, but praised the defense, which
lost many of its stars from last season’s title team.

“The game surprised me,” Bowden said. “I thought it would be
a high-scoring game since our offense performed so well leading up
to the game. Our defense had struggled all preseason, But our
defense played just beautifully.”

Anchored by defensive end Jamal Reynolds, who caused a safety
and had two sacks, the Seminoles intercepted three passes,
recovered a fumble and totaled five sacks against BYU quarterbacks
Bret Engemann and Charlie Peterson.

The Cougars had 79 yards in the first half—minus-13 rushing -
and finished with 225 total yards.

“They’re incredible,” said Engemann, who was 12 of 28 for 139
yards and two interceptions. “If they don’t win the championship
again this year, I’ll be surprised.”

Rips Running Game, Kicker

Bowden isn’t as confident. He criticized his team’s running
game, which produced 57 yards; and his kicker, Matt Munyon, who
missed two field goals and an extra point.

“What needs work? Sustaining out block in the running game,”
said Bowden. “And the kicking game was what I was afraid it would
be.”

But there was Weinke. On his first TD pass, a 19-yarder to Javon
Walker just 2:47 into the season, the quarterback was pushed into
BYU’s LaVell Edwards on the sideline and the collision sent the
69-year-old coach sprawling. It might have been the hardest hit
Weinke took all night at Alltel Stadium.

BYU was overmatched from the start, unable to keep up with
Florida State’s new set of speedy receivers featuring Marvin
Minnis, Atrews Bell, Anquan Boldin and Walker. Peter Warrick? Who’s
he?

BYU barely extended its NCAA record of scoring in consecutive
games to 313 when Owen Pochman kicked a 42-yard field goal with
2:19 left in the third quarter. The Cougars were last shut out in
1975, 20-0 by Arizona State

“It was frustrating,” Edwards said. “It was a typical opener.
We did some good things. We played hard and well on defense. FSU’s
defensive quickness made it difficult for us.”

After a 3-yard TD pass to Bell and safety made it 15-0, he took
off on the longest run of his career. Before the 21-yarder, his
previous longest run was 8 yards.

He rolled left, saw running room and outran several BYU
defenders before being chased out of bounds at the 6. On the next
play, a double reverse, he threw the block that freed up Bell for
the TD that put the Seminoles in control at 22-0 early in the
second quarter.